Accepting Credit Cards with Your Cell Phone: Square Versus the Triangle for Easy Merchant Accounts

Looks like Square is starting to cut into PayPal’s turf.  I wrote about taking credit cards with your cell phone using the Square a couple of years ago and now PayPal (owned by eBay) has launched the Triangle.

Funny how they decided to name it something so similar!

Trust is a big thing with this form of payment and maybe with PayPal’s name on it, the Triangle will be more widely accepted by consumers and businesses alike.

You’ll remember that I believe that PayPal is great for the buyer, but tough to administer as the seller.  I’m wondering if being able to swipe with the Triangle evens the playing field from the small business owner’s point of view?

With Square partnering with Starbucks and Triangle partnering with NCR and Discover the idea of swiping your card with just about anyone to trade money is bound to catch on. Even the Girl Scouts have been selling cookies using a mobile card reader with Intuit’s  GoPayment device.

I have not yet seen a Triangle but have a Square for my business.  Have you tried the Triangle or the Square in your business yet? Here’s a nice side by side comparison chart.

I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts of either. Pro and con.